“With less than two weeks remaining in the summer transfer window, Manchester United is racing to resolve the lingering ‘bottlenecks’ in their squad.”
Five names—Alejandro Garnacho, Jadon Sancho, Antony, Tyrell Malacia, and Rasmus Højlund—are all on the list of players Manchester United aims to offload before the September 1 deadline.
While Marcus Rashford has already left Old Trafford, the remaining four members of the so-called “bomb squad”—Garnacho, Sancho, Antony, and Malacia—have been forced to train separately at Carrington after expressing their desire to leave. This is a clear sign that they are no longer part of manager Ruben Amorim’s plans.
Chelsea is reportedly the most likely destination for Garnacho, but Man United are determined not to sell the young talent below his market value. In Sancho’s case, a move to Chelsea fell through due to his high wages. The London club agreed to pay a £5 million penalty to cancel the purchase commitment, while Roma is negotiating a loan deal with an option to buy for £20 million.
Antony is still waiting for Real Betis—the club where he enjoyed a stellar loan spell last season. However, Betis is facing financial difficulties that hinder the deal. For Man United, selling Antony for a minimum of £32.8 million is mandatory to avoid violating the PSR (Profit and Sustainability Rules).
Tyrell Malacia has just turned 26, but interest in the Dutch defender is modest following his loan stint at PSV. Roma is reportedly monitoring the situation, though no significant progress has been made.
Rasmus Højlund’s case highlights United’s direction even more. The Danish striker was left out of the squad for the Arsenal match, sitting on the bench instead. The arrival of Benjamin Sesko has rendered Højlund surplus to requirements. Manager Amorim stated bluntly: “Rasmus shares similar traits with Sesko, so sometimes we have to make choices. He has to fight for his place.”
AC Milan quickly entered the race. Sporting director Igli Tare admitted: “Højlund is a good option for us. But the transfer market is unpredictable; nothing is certain yet.”
With the 7 p.m. September 1 deadline approaching, Man United must finalize the future of several players who no longer fit into their plans. This is not just a squad overhaul but also a test for the board in balancing finances and avoiding PSR-related complications.
A busy summer is drawing to a close, and many transfer moves at Old Trafford are still unresolved.